Statutory guidance

Import of untreated wool and hair - Import Information Note (IIN) ABP/23A

Published 2 December 2024

1. General information 

This Import Information Note (IIN) must be read in conjunction with the IIN for general information for imports of animal by-products (ABPs), which provides information on pre-notifications, veterinary checks, risk categories and more.

References to European Union (EU) legislation within this document are references to direct EU legislation which has been assimilated in Great Britain (assimilated direct legislation), as defined in the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 and can be viewed on the UK legislation website. 

2. Scope 

Import conditions for untreated wool and hair. 

This IIN only covers untreated wool and hair as defined below. If you wish to import treated wool, hair and fur please refer to IIN ABP/23B. 

Wool and hair are defined as:

• ‘Wool’ means the natural fibre grown by sheep or lambs
• ‘Fine animal hair’ means the hair of alpaca, llama, vicuna, camel (including dromedary), yak, angora, Tibetan, Kashmir or similar goats (but not common goats), rabbit, (including Angora rabbit), hare, beaver, nutria or muskrat
• ‘Coarse animal hair’ means all other animal hair than ‘fine animal hair’ with the exception of, inter alia, pigs’ bristles or pigs’ hair
• ‘Horsehair’ is defined as hair of the manes or tails of equine or bovine animals

Untreated wool and hair are defined in Regulation (EU) 142/2011 as wool and hair, other than wool or hair which has either:

• undergone factory washing
• been obtained from tanning
• been treated by another method that ensures that no unacceptable risks remain
• been produced from animals other than those of the porcine species, and has undergone factory-washing which consisting of the immersion of the wool in series of baths of water, soap and sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide
• been produced from animals other than those of the porcine species, is intended for being dispatched directly to a plant producing derived products from wool for the textile industry and has undergone at least one of the following treatments:
  • chemical depilation by means of slaked lime or sodium sulphide
  • fumigation in formaldehyde in a hermetically sealed chamber for at least 24 hours
  • industrial scouring which consists of the immersion of wool in a water-soluble detergent held at 60 to 70 °C
  • storage, which may include the journey time, at 37 °C for 8 days, 18 °C for 28 days or 4°C for 120 days

3. Production standards 

In accordance with Annex XIV, Chapter II, Table 2. Point 8 and Chapter VIII, Article 25 point 2 of Regulation (EU) 142/2011 untreated wool and hair must either: 

a) be securely enclosed in packaging and dry and must be sent directly to a plant producing derived products for uses outside the feed chain or a plant carrying out intermediate operations under conditions which prevent the spreading of pathogenic agents

b) be wool and hair intended for dispatch to a plant producing derived products from wool and hair for the textile industry, that is:

      i) dry and securely enclosed in packaging

      ii) produced from animals other than those of the porcine species

      iii)produced at least 21 days before the date of entry into GB

      iv) kept in a country or region thereof which is listed in the document published by the Secretary of State with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers for fresh meat of ungulates, and which is authorised for imports of fresh meat of ruminants not subject to supplementary guarantees A and F mentioned therein, for non-EU countries or EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries

      v) free of foot-and-mouth disease, and, in the case of wool and hair from sheep and goats, of sheep pox and goat pox in accordance with the basic general criteria listed in Annex II to Directive 2004/68

The animal by-products must only be derived from Category 3 materials referred to in Article 10(h) and 10(n) of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009.

4. Country of origin 

For wool and hair as per section 3a

Imports are permitted from any country.

For wool and hair as per section 3b

Imports are permitted from trading partners listed in a document published by the Secretary of State, with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers for:

• non-EU countries
• EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries 

Imports are permitted from countries listed in the document for fresh meat of ungulates which are authorised for imports of fresh meat of ruminants not subject to supplementary guarantees A and F mentioned therein. 

5. Approved establishments 

Products must be produced in an establishment approved to export to Great Britain (GB). Importers should check prior to importation that the premises are listed on the correct list.  

Find consolidated lists of approved plants (excluding the EU)

Find approved EU ABP establishments 

If the establishment or plant is not listed, importers are urged to contact the company concerned, who should contact their competent authority immediately. If the plant is not included on the appropriate list when veterinary checks are carried out the consignment is likely to be held and could be rejected and re-exported or destroyed.

6. Documentation 

For wool and hair as per section 3a

A commercial document stating at least the consignor and consignee, country of origin, amount and species of the wool or hair for traceability purposes.

For wool and hair as per section 3b  

The consignment must be accompanied by a declaration which conforms to the model found on GOV.UK, and which is signed by the importer. This requirement applies to products in the high and medium risk categories. 

Model health certificates for other animal by-products 

Find information about import risk categories, inspection rates and related rules for animals and animal products imported from:

• the EU to GB
• non-EU countries to GB

NOTE: the approved establishment of origin must be stated on the commercial documents and importer’s declaration, including the approval number of the establishment 

7. Movement to premises of destination 

For wool and hair as per section 3a

Once released at the border control post (BCP) the untreated wool and hair must be sent directly to a plant producing derived products for uses outside the feed chain or a plant carrying out intermediate operations under conditions which prevent the spreading of pathogenic agents which has been approved or registered in accordance with Article 23 or Article 24 and Article 44 of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009. 

For wool and hair as per section 3b

Once released at the BCP the untreated wool and hair must be sent to a plant producing derived products from wool and hair for the textile industry which has been approved or registered in accordance with Article 23 or Article 24 and Article 44 of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009. 

8. Contact for further information 

For more information about import requirements, contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) imports team:

Centre for International Trade - Carlisle
Eden Bridge House
Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DX

Email: imports@apha.gov.uk 

Telephone: 03000 200 301